Entry
ドスドス
dosudosu
Describes the loud, heavy, and thudding sound of someone walking forcefully, often conveying anger or clumsiness.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word illustrates the repeated thudding sound made when a large person walks heavily or when someone stomps their feet on the floor. It frequently implies that the person is walking without grace, or is displaying their frustration and anger through their heavy steps.
- Stomping in anger
- Heavy steps due to weight
Sense Map
Emotional Stomping
Walking with loud, forceful steps to the floor as an expression of anger, frustration, or annoyance.
怒ってドスドス歩く
Physical Heaviness
The heavy, thudding sound of footsteps from someone with a large build or someone walking carelessly.
二階からドスドスと足音がする
Usage Note
How to Use
ドスドス（と）歩く
Used directly before the verb to walk (歩く) to describe walking with heavy, thudding steps.
ドスドス（と）上る
Used with the verb to climb or go up (上る) to describe someone stomping heavily up the stairs.
ドスドスと足音を立てる
Emphasizes the act of making (立てる) a loud, thudding footstep noise (足音), often in a disruptive way.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ドスドスと歩く
to walk with heavy, thudding steps
階段をドスドス上る
to stomp loudly up the stairs
ドスドス足音を立てる
to make loud stomping noises
床をドスドス踏む
to stomp heavily on the floor
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Someone is angry | Negative | Indicates that the person is taking their anger out on the floor by intentionally stomping their feet. |
| Hearing noises from upstairs | Negative | Commonly used when feeling annoyed by a neighbor upstairs walking around carelessly with heavy, loud footsteps. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
どたばた どたばた / contrast | Use ドタバタ when someone is running around in a panic or a rush, creating a noisy, chaotic commotion. | Not the same because ドタバタ focuses on chaotic speed and panic, whereas ドスドス focuses on the heavy physical force and weight of each deliberate step. | ドタバタ走り回る |
どしんどしん どしんどしん / similar | Use ドシンドシン for something massive and extremely heavy moving slowly, like a giant, an elephant, or a heavy object being dropped repeatedly. | Not the same because ドシンドシン implies a scale much larger than a normal human, while ドスドス is commonly used for a human walking roughly or angrily. | 象がドシンドシンと歩く |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for the sound of fast running.
Use words like ドタバタ or タッタッタ instead. This word is specifically for heavy, thudding impacts, not for light or fast speed.
Thinking it sounds energetic or positive.
It almost always sounds disruptive, unrefined, or indicates that the person is in a bad mood.
Examples
Examples
彼は怒って廊下をドスドスと歩いた。
かれはおこってろうかをドスドスとあるいた。
He walked heavily down the hallway in anger.
LiteralShows anger expressed through forceful, heavy steps.
上の部屋からドスドスという足音が聞こえる。
うえのへやからドスドスというあしおとがきこえる。
I can hear heavy footsteps coming from the room upstairs.
LiteralA common situation when bothered by a neighbor's footsteps in an apartment.
階段をドスドスと駆け上がらないで。
かいだんをドスドスとかけあがらないで。
Please don't run up the stairs so heavily.
LiteralA warning not to run up the stairs in a loud, clumsy manner.
大きな男が部屋に入ってきて、ドスドスと歩き回った。
おおきなおとこがへやにはいってきて、ドスドスとあるきまわった。
The large man entered the room and walked around with heavy steps.
LiteralHighlights the heavy footsteps caused by a large physical size.
彼は苛立ちを示すように床をドスドス踏んだ。
かれはいらだちをしめすようにゆかをドスドスふんだ。
He stomped heavily on the floor to show his frustration.
LiteralThe deliberate act of stomping one's foot in anger without necessarily moving locations.
Similar Words
ドタバタ
dotabata
Describes the loud noise of heavy footsteps running around, or a state of frantic, chaotic panic. Indicates panic and speed, unlike dosudosu which implies anger or weight.
ドシンドシン
doshindoshin
Describes the loud, heavy sound of large footsteps. Much larger scale, like a giant or an elephant.
どたどた
dotadota
This word describes the loud, heavy, and ungraceful sound of footsteps.
Questions
Can I use this word for the sound of high heels?
No. High heels make a sharp clicking sound, better described by カツカツ (katsukatsu). This word is for the heavy, reverberating thud of flat shoes or bare feet.
Is it okay to describe my boss as walking this way?
You should not say it directly to them. It implies a lack of grace and sounds like you are criticizing them for walking clumsily or intimidatingly.
Can this be used for animals?
Usually not for small pets like cats. However, it can be used for very large, heavy dogs, or large animals walking around in a zoo enclosure.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2859056
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- ビッタリ (bittari)
- Next entry
- 泡々 (awaawa)